6.3 %
- Thread starter WarthogRebel
- Start date
Rishwain is in a horrific drought. If he’s not hitting a shot in his 25+ minutes, he’s worthless for us. It’s all he can do.
1 for 16 from the 3 point line. At, least we continue the streak.
In this five game losing streak, he’s averaging 30 minutes …. 9-35 from three (26%), 10-41 from floor, 4 rpg, 2 apg, 6 ppg.
And that’s with a stellar 16 pt, 5-10 from three performance vs UNM. IN those other four losses, 4-25 from three, 4 ppg.
But it’s more than just him. Dedan is very erratic too.
And that’s with a stellar 16 pt, 5-10 from three performance vs UNM. IN those other four losses, 4-25 from three, 4 ppg.
But it’s more than just him. Dedan is very erratic too.
It’s been over for awhile, for whatever reason, local press won’t talk about it. This isn’t a Jan decision, this isn’t a Feb decision, this isn’t a five game losing streak decision. This is a bad three seasons and disastrous fourth decision.
The team needed to make some real noise this season. It was evident in the early season. Unless you were one of the Kevin Kruger Kumbaya Klan members, it was very, very easy to see this team didn’t have near what it takes, it would require a huge fluke to do anything. Talent isn’t there, toughness isn’t there, coaching isn’t there, fans aren’t there.
I’m not sure it even rates as a sufficiently significant story anymore for the media, especially the newspapers, to write about it. People just don’t care that much anymore. Very very sad to say that; it’s the worst thing you can possibly say about a program. Kinda like how Vegas reacts to Reno: who cares. The program needs a complete rebuild not only from a basketball perspective but marketing, fan/student/alumni engagement, donor relations, branding, you name it. They should even consider revamping the pregame fireworks. It harkens back to the old Rebels which have been dead and buried for a while. Hard for me to say since that’s my generation but everything about the program is stale, retreads, going thru the motions right up to the coach.
How many game did CKK get bailed out bye HERO ball ? Hamilton , Harkless and Thomas to a lesser extent . IMO we out talent people on most of his wins. If those players were not as clutch as they were and CKK record would be MUCH worse. Off the top of my head maybe 7-10 less wins. Probably more.
HE WAS OUR LEADING REBOUNDER WITH 8 AND HAD MORE ASST THAN OUR POINT GUARD SO NOT COMPLETELY WORTHLESS. HIS SHOOTING WAS TERRIBLE THOOGH.
Between him and Hicks they have about 90% of our hustle/IQ plays on D!
When the season ends i just might take some vacation days just to watch thing unfold. It will be the most exciting UNLV related time i have had since maybe signing Thomas or after OTZ departure.
My understanding is that the most viewed stories for both the LVRJ and Sun are UNLV sports, whether it’s MBB, Football, or when Lindy makes the NCAAT.
So the views are there and there isn’t any reason to hold back on CKK. Unless they were specifically told not to, if you wanted to start generating revenue off views that is how you do it. Look around the country and whenever a coach is doing bad, some beat writer is going to rattle off the list of problems and why a new direction is needed.
Last year the LA Times was pretty rough on Darvin Ham, ditto for when Robert’s choked in the playoffs for the Dodgers, until recently he’s been praised as a GOAT.
Perhaps the owners of the publications have vested interest in keeping UNLV AD happy or IMO they both know Lon Kruger and are doing him a favor. I do believe Lon is active behind the scenes to protect his son and results notwithstanding, Harper does NOT have a problem with CKK.
Rice and Menzies got heat early in their final seasons, this is year 4 and it’s going backwards. Not a peep from the media, guaranteed they are under a gag order.
A gag order is about right for this season.
That's our offense. We depend on players making tough shots to bail us out.
Personally I like the idea of creating offense that manufactures easy shots whenever possible, but hey, that is just me. You know, open looks tend to go in more than off-balance, heavily contested shots. I know, I know crazy talk.
Obviously Kruger and staff does not agree. Because not only do we make offense as difficult as possible, we have no trouble leaving guys wide open on the regular when on defense. So at least he is consistent?
Which brings me to the OP.
How many of Rishwain's 3 point looks have been decently open, within a reasonable range, coming off a screen or a play? You don't have to watch the tape, it is probably zero.
Now the dude can make some crazy shots, but he would be making significantly more if we actually tried to run a play to give him an open look. You know, like every other team we play that has a decent shooter.
But this isn’t different, schematically, offensively and defensively, from day 1. If you are going to implement an offense that takes advantage of players’ ability, talent … you better recruit players who have ability/talent. Can’t have one trick ponies grabbing the lions share.
You can't survive really at ANY level these days without some level of scheme. Actual offense.
Back in the day with Diaper dandies ruling the College basketball world, and more open playground/classic NBA style with very little structured offense could work. Rice basically did that at this level and had some success, but obviously hit a ceiling.
But these days, the game is more about upper classmen than freshman. UConn has won championships based off of excellent half court offense and solid defense. Near elite talent.
Cal lost his shine because his formula stopped working, college basketball has evolved, and for the better IMO.
CKK trying to strictly out talent teams will have a low hit rate. We have had some decent talent the past 2 years with him for sure. But not enough to out talent good teams on a regular basis. And lesser talent with good scheme can take advantage as well, which we have seen way too many times as well.
I have given Kevin more slack than nearly everyone on this site, but I have had a disclaimer from day one. HE needs to improve. And he hasn't. The scheme and roster contruction were the 2 biggest issues. I think we have a decently balanced team now. We have a good guard, wings that can shoot, and a legit post player. You can do SO MUCH with that combo, but we do nothing to maximize it. The scheme is necessary at this level. Tell me one team that is G5 that has had any sort of recent success relying on talent alone?
Even Penny at Memphis has changed, he was probably the last one trying that formula with any sort of success. But he was being out played in recent years with teams with lesser talent as well.
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